[Reader-list] MNIC: Parliament Questions - 31

[Taha Mehmood]

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF  	HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED 	 QUESTION NO  	3487
ANSWERED ON   	11.12.2001
MULTI-PURPOSE IDENTITY CARDS FOR INDIAN CITIZENS
3487 .	Shri N.T. SHANMUGAM
	
BHAVANA PUNDLIKRAO GAWALI


(a) Whether the Government propose to issue Multi-purpose National
Identity Cards to Indian Citizens;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government have commissioned a detailed feasibility
study of National Identity Cards system through a professional
consultancy firm;

(d) if so, the present status of the feasibility study;

(e) the time by which this card system is likely to be put into effect; and

(f) the likely utility of the photo identity card presently issued by
the Election Commission of India in this context?
ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (CH. VIDYASAGAR RAO)


(a) to (f): Yes, Sir. The Government proposes to issue multipurpose
National Identity Cards to Indian citizens, which, apart from
providing a credible identification system, would also have
multifarious socio-economic uses.

The Government had entrusted the task of preparation of a feasibility
study report to a professional consultancy firm for the issue of
Multipurpose National Identity Cards to the Indian citizens. The
detailed report received from the firm has covered aspects relating to
the creation of an identification system of one billion people,
streamlining of the machinery for the registration of births and
deaths at the Panchayat level and institutional as well as
technological options for the creation of an integrated data base of
personal identities capable of being continuously updated. The
Government will finalise its decision only after an in-depth
examination of all relevant issues and after necessary preparations
are made for launching the system, including giving legal backing to
the scheme.

The photo identity card issued by the Election Commission of India is
not a universal system of identification based on compulsory
registration of Indian citizens or registration of birth and death.